Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian-American Doctor Couple Pankaj Satija And Monika Ummat Facing Deportation Gets Reprieve

Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 Mar, 2017 12:05 PM
    Two prominent Indian-American doctors in Houston facing deportation as their travel documents had expired have been given a rare last minute-reprieve by the US administration that granted them a 90-day extension on humanitarian grounds.
     
    Dr Pankaj Satija and his wife Dr Monika Ummat, both neurologists, have been working legally in the US for 15 years. They have a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter.
     
    The problem started when they visited India to see Dr Satija's sick father in October last year. On their return they were stopped at the Bush International airport by Customs and Border Protection officials because their travel documents had expired, the Houston Chronicle reported.
     
    The Customs and Border Protection officials stamped their travel document saying that it would expire in June this year, when in fact the US Citizenship and Immigration Services noted that their document actually expired in June, 2016.
     
    Upon returning to the US about a week later, a Customs and Border Protection official at the airport noted the discrepancy. The officials, however, allowed them to enter temporarily to correct the error.
     
    On Wednesday, Dr Satija and his wife were abruptly told by immigration officials that they had 24 hours to leave the US. They were told that under a new policy, they could no longer extend their temporary permission to stay while they waited for permanent authorisation, local media reported.
     
    However, as they were about to board a plane for India yesterday, they were granted a 90-day extension on humanitarian grounds.
     
    The couple had called on their legislators and had taken the media along with their attorneys to plead their case. They reported, as ordered, to customs officials at Bush Intercontinental Airport, where they were told the agency had suddenly reversed course.
     
    "Somebody at a higher level has made that decision," they were told by an agent. "I understand that you are physicians and a lot of lives are at stake."
     
    The agency offered the couple three months of humanitarian parole, a rare measure allowing immigrants, who are otherwise not permitted to enter the US, the opportunity to do so due to a "compelling emergency" to sort out their paperwork.
     
    "It was an unusual act of grace from an administration that has so far seemed intent on removing as many immigrants as it can, making few exceptions, even for those, like the Satijas, with good reasons to stay," the Houston Chronicle said in its report.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    US Applications For New Zealand Citizenship Jump By 70 Percent After Trump's Election

    US Applications For New Zealand Citizenship Jump By 70 Percent After Trump's Election
    It's one thing to talk about changing allegiance to another country when a new president is elected. It's another thing to go ahead and do it.

    US Applications For New Zealand Citizenship Jump By 70 Percent After Trump's Election

    Indian-American Panel Launches Campaign Against Hate Crimes

    Indian-American Panel Launches Campaign Against Hate Crimes
    Chicago-based Indian-American Public Affairs Committee (IAPAC) has launched a campaign across the US to spread awareness about hate crimes against the community.

    Indian-American Panel Launches Campaign Against Hate Crimes

    Employers Allowed To Ban The Hijab, Rules European Union's Top Court

    Employers Allowed To Ban The Hijab, Rules European Union's Top Court
    Companies may bar staff from wearing Islamic headscarves and other visible religious symbols under certain conditions, the European Union's top court ruled on Tuesday, setting off a storm of complaint from rights groups and religious leaders.

    Employers Allowed To Ban The Hijab, Rules European Union's Top Court

    US Hate Crimes Up 20% In 2016

    US Hate Crimes Up 20% In 2016
    Hate crimes in nine US metropolitan areas rose more than 20 per cent last year, fueled by inflamed passions during the presidential campaign and more willingness for victims to step forward, said a leading hate crimes researcher.

    US Hate Crimes Up 20% In 2016

    US Must Not Adopt Transactional Approach In Ties With India: Nisha Biswal

    US Must Not Adopt Transactional Approach In Ties With India: Nisha Biswal
    The new Trump administration understands the importance of strong Indo-US ties but should not adopt any kind of "transactional approach" when it comes to this relationship, a top Indian-American official in the previous government has said.

    US Must Not Adopt Transactional Approach In Ties With India: Nisha Biswal

    WATCH: Sean Spicer Confronted in Apple Store by Indian-American Woman Shree Chauhan

    WATCH: Sean Spicer Confronted in Apple Store by Indian-American Woman Shree Chauhan
    In the video Chauhan posted on Twitter, she can be heard asking Spicer, "How does it feel to work for a fascist?" He answers, "We have a great country.

    WATCH: Sean Spicer Confronted in Apple Store by Indian-American Woman Shree Chauhan